Mario vs. Sonic the Hedgehog - Part 5

Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog have appeared in countless games over the years. What does the future hold for these two gaming icons?

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Mario vs. Sonic the Hedgehog: Past, Present, Future

By today, most people have probably agreed upon the fact that Mario has won his mascot rivalry against Sonic the Hedgehog. There are those, however, who still remain loyal to the Blue Blur and refuse to believe that the hedgehog is past his prime. What does the future hold for both of these gaming giants?

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Sonic the Hedgehog 4

Gamers spoke, and Sega finally listened. Announced as Project Needlemouse in the summer of 2009, Sega promised to deliver a gaming experience for fans of Sonic the Hedgehog’s greatest adventures. Sonic the Hedgehog 4 will be an episodic series, and it will feature the speedy hedgehog in side-scrolling environments not unlike his classic Genesis escapades. Countless fans have already voiced their gratitude toward Sega, and the only real problem gamers have found with Sonic 4 is that it hasn’t been released yet. It’s been a long time coming, and hopefully Sonic the Hedgehog 4 delivers that which Sonic fans have been waiting years for.

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Sonic Colors

Aside from Sonic’s return to 2D, Sega is also giving it one more crack at a 3D Sonic game. This time, however, they’re stripping it of gimmicks and unnecessary characters and throwing in a few power-ups that actually enhance the famous hedgehog’s speed. Sonic Colors is slated for release on both the Nintendo Wii and DS, and it looks to be a very promising title.

The Wii version of the game retains everything that made Sonic Unleashed so much fun: great level design, high speed, and beautiful locales. What it doesn’t feature from that game are the slow-paced Werehog levels that so many gamers criticized. Sonic Colors on the Wii may very well be one of the greatest 3D Sonic games when it launches later this year.

The DS version of the game will be similar in design to the Sonic Rush games. Those who played those titles know that Sonic Rush is a great throwback to Sonic’s Genesis games. Ideally this means that you’ll be getting a completely different—albeit related—gaming experience with both the Wii and DS versions. Good work, Sega!

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Mario's Future

It’s safe to say Nintendo will keep churning out quality Mario titles from here on out. Since the series’ debut, every one of Mario’s adventures has entertained fans, from his 2D side-scrolling to his 3D platforming to his RPG questing. Mario isn’t in any danger of losing fans, and this is all thanks to Nintendo being able to create marvelous worlds for the plumber to explore in games that feature tight controls and refined gameplay. Whatever Mario’s future holds, it will most likely launch to mass praise.

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What Does the Future Hold for Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog?

It seems as if the classic rivalry between Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog is no more. Realistically, Mario has come out on top way more times than Sonic. Still, Sega has refused to give up on the blue hedgehog, and with titles such as Sonic 4 and Sonic Colors on the horizon, it’s a good thing they didn’t. Here’s to the future of both Mario and Sonic: may they entertain us for years to come.